South Range softball team rolls to remain on top

April 28, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

BEAVER TOWNSHIP

As South Range softball player Jess Skripac stepped into the batter’s box during Monday’s first-place showdown with Springfield, grandfather Bill Meadows, seated in the bleachers way down the third-base line, shouted encouragement.

“Pound it, Jess!” he said, trying to contain shivers on a 41-degree afternoon.

Skripac didn’t hear him but did as suggested, sending a 2-1 pitch from Tigers pitcher Josie Applegarth over the center-field fence for a three-run homer. An inning later, she connected for a RBI single in the Raiders’ 11-1 victory.

Skripac said she doesn’t hear anything at the plate.

“When I go into the box, the world goes away,” Skripac said. “And it’s a really awesome feeling. Even the pitcher goes away a little bit and it’s just me and the ball.

“Sometimes, I’ll hear my team cheer for me, that’s always comforting.”

She appreciates the support of her grandparents — grandmother Gaitha also was bundled up watching.

“They come out here and it’s really, really cold — I love having them here watching,” Skripac said.

The Raiders (12-4, 3-0 Inter Tri-County League Red Division), especially the bottom three of the lineup, gave them plenty to cheer. In the seven slot ahead of Skripac in the batting order, designated player Morgan Smith’s three hits included a double and drove in four runs. Behind Skripac was Lydia Baird whose two-run single in the fourth inning provided a 10-run lead to shorten the game.

“In our order, there’s not a given out,” South Range head coach Don Feren said.

The defending league champions and Division III regional semifinalists, the Raiders are looking for another trip to Massillon. The one senior who graduated last spring was shortstop Stevie Taylor, The Vindicator softball position player of the year now at Youngstown State.

With a veteran lineup, Feren’s mission before this season was to replace Taylor. He made an unusual choice. Sarah Moretti, who had been the catcher for three seasons, came out from behind the plate to anchor the infield.

Moretti admitted she didn’t volunteer for the switch, but the addition of freshman catcher Felicia Gaeta to the team sparked the change.

“I was curious to see who would go out there,” said Moretti who also is batting in Taylor’s old number-three slot and scored two runs. “It’s worked out — I’m where the team needs me.”

Feren said Moretti “is playing a great shortstop. That was our big question mark before the season. It was a tough decision but she’s handling it well.”

Moretti has shortstop experience from travel ball.

“When you’re behind the plate, you’re in every play,” Moretti said. “It’s easier to track because you know it’s coming somewhere around you.

“When you are at short, it can go anywhere.”

Caragyn Yanek tossed a four-hitter to get the win. The sophomore pitcher has been recovering from a pulled muscle in her throwing shoulder that she injured while swinging a bat on the first day of practice.

“I still have some days where it’s not the best,” said Yanek who has been sharing pitching with Taylor Helon. “I stretch more and bring my bands with me everywhere.”

For the Tigers (7-8, 3-2) Lindsey Druschel’s two hits included a double. She scored their run on Cori Wade’s two-out single.

Skripac said she wasn’t certain she had a homer when the ball left her bat.

“Not immediately,” Skripac said. “You see the ball get smaller and smaller, and it’s a really cool feeling.”

Her family can relate.